Jane Fonda visited North Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

See the email here.

Yes, but she did not do some things the widely circulated email claims she did.

Let's sort out fact from fiction, shall we?

Fact:

• Jane Fonda visited North Vietnam in July 1972.
• Jane Fonda participated in a number of North Vietnam arranged propaganda events, including photo opportunities (most memorably posed with an anti-aircraft gun) and radio broadcasts.
• Jane Fonda participated in a North Vietnam press conference to refute charges that American prisoners were being mistreated by their captors.
• American prisoners were beaten for refusing to meet with Fonda.

Fiction:

• Jerry Driscoll, an American POW, was beaten for spitting at Jane Fonda during her visit.
• When American POWs tried to messages to Fonda during her visit, Fonda turned the messages over to their North Vietnamese captors and the POWs were beaten and died.

Jane Fonda was one of the most prominent Americans to actively speak out against the Vietnam War. There is, of course, a great difference between opposing the war and lending your fame and voice to North Vietnamese propaganda.

It's somewhat surprising that Jane Fonda's 1970's activism still arouses such an angry reaction. Other acts of radicalism may have faded from the public mind but 'Hanoi Jane' is not forgotten by many, particularly former POWs.

Though circulating since 1999, the 'Hanoi Jane' email has been especially popular since September 11th. Perhaps in these times of pumped-up patriotism, some see a need to be on guard against the mistakes of the past.

• 'Hanoi Jane' Rumors Blend Fact and Fiction from About.com
• Hanoi'd with Jane from Snopes.com

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